WAFarmers is concerned by a number of recommendations made by the Commission of Audit which, if implemented, could profoundly affect the productivity and sustainability of Western Australia’s agricultural sector. After a preliminary review of the Audit, WAFarmers President Dale Park said he hoped the government would look to the impact implementing any of the recommendations would have on industries and communities before accepting them. Of particular concern to WAFarmers are recommendations to discontinue concessional loans,

NOTICE OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN FARMERS FEDERATION (INC) BEEKEEPERS SECTION ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014 As required under its Constitution (rule 26.2.2) the Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc) (WAFarmers) hereby notifies all Beekeeper Section members that the Beekeepers Section Annual Conference will be held on Friday June 6, 2014 at the Country Comfort Inter City Hotel, 249 – 263 Great Eastern Highway, Belmont, 6104. WAFarmers reminds members of the following rule of WAFarmers Constitution; (i) All motions

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection will be holding an information session in Bunbury on Thursday May 8 titled ‘Assisting regional Australia through skilled migration’. Seats are limited and registrations must be received by COB May 5. For more information and contact details see the flyer.

A low-stress livestock handling course (sheep) will be run by AMPC and MINTRAC at Narrogin Agricultural College on May 26 – 27. Low stress livestock handling techniques are becoming increasingly important considerations in the improvement of animal welfare and meat quality at meat processing plants. This course will teach stock handlers simple handling techniques to reduce the stress of yarding and lairage programs. This course is for meat processing stock handlers and supervisors who have

WAFarmers is cautioning the Federal government against making cuts to the current off-road fuel rebate farmers can claim through the Fuel Tax Credit Scheme. Should speculation of such cuts be true, the Federal government would be defying its commitment to industry’s profitability and competitiveness, WAFarmers President Dale Park said. “Prior to last year’s election, WAFarmers called for the off-road fuel rebate to be retained in the interests of keeping farming businesses viable in the face

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has a new range of online courses available. The courses have national application and provide professional development opportunities for agribusiness professionals and growers. Of particular interest to WAFarmers members is the Salinity Concepts course, which has been adapted for the regions of Avon, South West and South Coast in collaboration with DAFWA. Course Overview:  EverTrain is a new NSWDPI e-learning platform with online courses based on the latest research and

The Kalbarri National Park draft management plan is now open for public comment. The plan covers Kalbarri National Park (183, 004 hectares), and considers close to 240,000 hectares of adjacent lands for addition to the conservation reserve system. These areas are collectively referred to as the planning area. The planning area is located adjacent to the town of Kalbarri and is within the local government areas of the Shire of Northampton and the Shire of

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has advised that they received a total of 108 submissions from producers, industry bodies and state government last year on the consultation regulation impact statement (RIS) for improving the sheep NLIS. WAFarmers is one of the organisations which made a submission. All submission received, other than those noted as confidential, are able to viewed online. ABARES is using these submissions to refine the analysis

The Department of Agriculture and Food WA has released the latest WA livestock disease outlook, providing a brief overview of recent significant cases investigated by Animal Health Laboratories (AHL). The latest edition can be downloaded here.